So You Want To Be A Consultant

Stephen Friedl writes "I've been a self-employed consultant for almost 20 years - I still have my first customer! - and I'm asked often about the business by those who are considering it. It's not for everybody, and there are often surprises, so I've written up a Tech Tip that recounts my experiences and provides advice for the n00b. Executive summary: It's much more about customer service than it is about technical skill."

Comments

Consider this when deciding on consultants.

[stimpleton]

If your business is considering inside or outside resources for a project, consider:

- What are the first 3 letters that Consultant begins with?
- Consultants are, at their core, like retail units, who must generate repeat business. Very few business models rely on providing a one off sale or service. Therefore, consultants create an ongoing product in terms of support, or licensing etc.

Lastly, consultant is different to contractor. While the 2 provide similar services, the consultant will only get out of bed for >$200. If this is not you then you are most likely a contractor.